From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
His agent is Dan Fegan, the same guy who represented Yi Jianlian when the Chinese forward balked and balked at playing in Milwaukee, eventually signed and then lasted just one year there before he was traded to New Jersey.
“Yes, it’s a big problem,” Rubio said of his buyout after he lost significant money by being the fifth pick instead of second or third.
Rubio had said before he’d basically play for free next year to pay off his Spanish team just so he could play in the NBA, but after tonight’s happenings he left open the possibility of returning to play in Europe next season.
He said he most wants “minutes” and the chance to succeed because he will make up the money he will lose through the buyout not with his rookie contract, but when he cashes in on his second one.
Kahn said the buyout situation will be an “interesting ride.”
Under NBA rules, the Wolves are allowed to pay only $500,000 toward Rubio’s buyout. The rest of the buyout money would come out of Rubio’s NBA contract. Kahn said the fact that Rubio was taken fifth instead of in the top three picks makes it “more problematic.”
Rubio said the same thing, stressing that he wants to play in the NBA but that he couldn’t say when.
“If any team in this league can afford to wait a year, dare I say two, it’s us,” Kahn said.
The Timberwolves took their third point guard of the night in North Carolina’s Ty Lawson at No. 18, but traded him to Denver for a future first-round draft pick. They took Tar Heels shooting guard Wayne Ellington at No. 28 to cap an eventful first round.
“This group could really grow and blossom if things work out,” Kahn said. “And that’s the hope.”
Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, is working on the hurdle. But the Timberwolves can only give Rubio $500,000 toward that buyout, and he is on the hook for the rest himself. By falling from the second pick to the fifth, Rubio lost about $3 million over the life of his rookie contract, much of which may have to go to Joventut.
Ouch.
Timberwolves president David Kahn said Fegan told him “it’d be more problematic if he wasn’t taken in the first three picks. We just have a lot of talking to do, and it’ll be an interesting ride.”
Ricky’s pop, Esteve Rubio: “Ahora mismo, es muy probable que Ricky se quede uno o dos años en Europa.” Translated, it says, “Right now, it is possible that Ricky plays a year or two more in Europe.”
“Tenemos que hablar con la gente de Minnesota … y ver lo que pasa, porque, a estas horas, podemos estar en Minnesota o en otra parte”, declaraba.” Loosely translated: “We are going to speak with the [people, staff] of Minnesota and see what’s happening, because, in some hours, we may be in Minnesota or in another place.”
Minnesota might not be Memphis or Oklahoma City, two cities that clearly didn’t push Rubio’s buttons. But it’s still, well, Minnesota. Rubio was asked if he was excited.
“I’m excited to come to the NBA,” he said, his face blank.
Remember when the Bucks drafted Yi Jianlian, and there was much bellyaching about whether not the Chinese player would report to Milwaukee? A year later, Yi was later traded to a team more to his liking, in New Jersey. His hard-bargaining agent was Dan Fegan — who also represents Rubio.
That’s no sign the relationship between the Timberwolves and Rubio will end the same way — culminating in an eventual departure. But it’s starting out in similar vein.
That was the handiwork of Fegan, who was trying to broker a deal sending Rubio to the Knicks. No such luck. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was plenty happy with Jordan Hill at No. 8. Kahn, according to a rival executive, believed that Rubio was by far the best point guard in this draft. He likes Rubio so much, in fact, that he’s apparently willing to wait out his return to Europe rather than trade him.
“That’s a big surprise for me they took another point guard,” Rubio said. “But we are going to see what they want.”
For his part, Flynn said of Rubio: “I can’t wait to go play with him.”
“It’s good to have two facilitators that can make plays on the court … I think we can boost each other’s level of play.”
Oh, and apparently he gets to battle brutally strong, iron-tough, take-no-prisoners Jonny Flynn for the starting point guard job – provided he doesn’t spend another season in Europe. Rubio is a great talent with poise beyond his years, but this transition wouldn’t be fun for anyone.
UPDATE: Or at least it’s not true from the standpoint of it actually happening. Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, would like it to be true. But Kahn is holding his ground and holding onto Rubio, setting up a showdown with a player who could opt to stay in Spain for a couple of years rather than freeze his culito off in Minnesota.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “We’re going to see.”
First among his concerns is the big buyout he would have to pay his current employer in Spain. Second was playing time. “I want to play minutes,” he said.
He was well aware that the Wolves took Flynn with the next pick. Flynn, meanwhile, was as surprised as anyone.
Flynn said he was going to talk to Rubio and say, “Let’s make this happen!”
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
